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Trials and Tried

From sweaty jungles and gritty sands
To stinking trenches in far off lands
From tunnels built for smallest man
To shrapnel skies in a flying can
Fighters, soldiers, sailors all
Have stood for us when heard the call
Some paid the price that war demands
Or made down payments with legs and hands
With determined chin they try to heal
But no one told them just how to feel
When coming home to peace and love
And to never fearing the skies above
To never need check behind each door
Or take a dive and hit the floor
When sounds so common to you and me
Fill that same vet with anxiety
The creaking floor, the coffeepot dripping
Could slowly start his facade to slipping
What once was calm and loving man
May have changed in him what he can’t understand
And without more help, understanding and grace
That saddened troop may have to face
A jury of 12 that have no clue…
Of what PTSD and war can do to you
They’ll convict without hearing all of the facts
And call him a Rambo because of his acts
The 12 would forget he would have laid down his life
For every one’s mother, brother, sister and wife…
They’ll sit on the court benches dictating his end
Till the gavel hammers in the final judgment to rend
And the life of a hero is cut short once again
But not from the actions in wars he’s been in
You see War called the shots and it knew it would win
To a troop whose coming home was his only real sin.

Steven Bates
Cheyenne, WY
A Preview Into Awaresness for PTSD

A Preview Into Awaresness for PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental illness that has taken over the lives of many veterans in the past, present, and will in the future. Post-Traumatic Stress disorder and depression have become two of the highest contributing factors to the death toll in American soldiers. Unfortunately, even though these soldiers do have a greater chance of returning home now than they did in the past, the chances of them coming home from battle with psychological scars is almost inevitable. The American government and Veterans Affairs department offer support to veterans but more awareness and help is crucial in order to help these individuals and our countries heroes.
With the help of medical advances the opportunity to give back to these veterans is existent and is becoming more evident. One of the most effective treatments is Stellate Ganglion Block, an anesthetic injection to the neck that helps treat chronic pain associated with hyper vigilance and anxiety; contributors of PTSD. Other side effects of PTSD include distress, functional impairment, and in many cases suicide. Awareness about this mental disorder has taken a toll in America since the death rate and severity of PTSD has come to light. With the help of more organizations creating awareness and help, these veterans will have a greater chance to live a normal life again someday.

Thank you so much to all of you heroes out there, you impact our world and each of our lives EVERY SINGLE DAY and you deserve nothing but the best!

Ana E
Denver, CO

The Fields of the Fallen

On a deserted, lonely hill, covered with snow,
You see row after row of crosses below.

The heroes have vanished to graves in fields,
Where valiant deeds on headstones revealed.

The crosses are covered with soft whispers of snow,
Oh, where did our brave heroes all go.

The cost of their sacrifice is lined up in rows,
And a brief prayer is all that’s left to compose.

Did you fight beside them? Did you support their cause?
Do you take a moment to consider and pause?

On the battlefield, they gave all they could,
Sacrificing their youth and precious manhood.

Honor their memory with dignity and grace,
Stop by and consider the sorrow of this place.

Cherish your freedoms, they answered the call,
Protecting your liberty, they gave you their all.


Wave our glorious flag, hold your banner with pride,
Do not forsake those brave souls who have died.

Can you not honor their memory today,
Will you not stop and take a moment to pray?

Maryanne Dunne
BROOMFIELD, CO

Some Gave All

Some gave eyes, arms and legs,
all predestined by their fate.
Some gave up dreams, their youth,
and women who wouldn’t wait.
Some lost it all, some held on tight,
And some gave in to hate.

And some gave up their very lives.

Yet, all gave some.

No heroes welcome home
met their weary eyes.
No ticker tape parades,
No paper floating from the skies.
No bands playing the anthem
To welcome back these guys.

Forgotten; their heroic deeds,
By media’s own device.
Forgotten were the POW/MIA
We forgot their sacrifice.
All forgotten heroes,
These Men who’d paid the price.

And some gave up their very lives.

Yet, all gave some.
You’re not welcome here,
You can’t come in this place.
Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?
You’re such a huge disgrace.
We’re not proud of your patriotism
How dare you show your face?

Shunned by Veteran of Foreign Wars,
Their loyalty suppressed.
Criticized by family and friends,
And slandered by the press,
Abandoned by their countrymen,
True, sadly, we confess.

They stuffed away their valiant deeds;
The things that they did best.
They stuffed away their medals and uniforms
In old forgotten chests.
They stuffed away their memories and dreams,
All hidden like the rest.

Rejected, some took their own lives.

Yet, all gave some.
Years pass, decades fly
How quickly time goes by.
Young men grow old, sometimes alone
As young dreams die.
The effects of the war wear on them
And many said goodbye.

An idea conceived,
A careful, thoughtful plan,
By volunteers and mentors doing all they can.
Yet, this simple act of kindness
Brought pride back to the man.

Yet, all gave some.
A new day dawns
A smile is on their face.
No longer humiliation and shame,
No longer their disgrace.
Your simple act of kindness
Has insured their rightful place.

And some gave up their very lives.

Yet, all gave some.
And somewhere in death’s battlefield;
Where heroic deeds are measured.
Where sacrifice, duty and honor
their values fully treasured.
Sleep goodly men! You gave it all!
Redeemed and surely pleasured.

Maryanne Dunne
BROOMFIELD, CO

Welcome Home Vietnam Vets

I attended a welcome home ceremony at Prairie View High School in Henderson, CO. It was sponsored by the freshman class and their mentor teacher Kelly Gonzales.
Over 400 Vets were honored and welcomed home. I was moved to write

Yesterday, because of your efforts, I witnessed renewed life,
the redemption of heroic men
forgotten by their country, family and friends.

You made a difference that blew through the halls of darkness,
Cast out shadows, exploded hallowed chambers
and filled them with once again with light and hope.

I saw dead men resurrected, alive again.
Their dignity and tears displayed like the medals they earned in battle.
Old wounds finally closed,
battle scars miraculous healed
and hearts beaming with long overdue pride.

You did all this, you made a difference,
you ended their pain by opening up your hearts, your time and your school
and welcoming them home.

By your efforts you rocked your world,
the aftershocks and tremors opened up old wounds
and closed them with one swift and final jolt,
and the ensuing cleansing tsunami washed away their tears.

PRAIRIE VIEW HIGH SCHOOL
YOU ROCK!!!

Maryanne Dunne
BROOMFIELD, CO

Independence Day

Well I'm 71 and homebound so I turn on the TV and try to find an educational story about Independence Day then I always watch the Macy fireworks. I particularly enjoy the fireworks to our patriotic songs.

Regina Becker
Indianapolis, IN

Sasebo Japan hospital 1971

I was a navy you corpsman in Sasebo japan,took care of many and was so glad to do so.would love to talk to any other corpsman or patients that I took care of.

frank wirtz
weymouth, MA

Sailor fighting his biggest battle

Amarillo, TX - An unfortunate circumstance has changed one local soldiers fight for American freedom into a fight for his own life.
Cody Lane said going into the Navy was the noble thing to do. However now, that journey is being put on hold.

Cody's grandfather, Richard Gaskill remembers it like it was yesterday...

"He's a great kid," Gaskill said. "He grew up right here, his mother is a single mom, his dad hasn't been around much. It wasn't that long ago I was picking him up right here at Lakeview school."

Today that young grandson has dedicated his life to protecting our freedom.

"[He] went through boot camp, got stationed in Bahrain on a mind sweeper, the USS Gladiator."

Cody enlisted in the Navy in 2013 right after graduating from Canyon High School. He began his duties aboard the USS Gladiator until one day an unfortunate accident changed his life.

"At first I hit my head on the ship, and you know they did a CT scan and determined I had a fracture in my neck so I was in a hard collar for a bit," Cody Lane, said. "And shortly thereafter, I started not feeling well. You know my gums started to swell and my mouth started to bleed pretty bad, and so I told my doc about it and he took me to the E.R. They ran a bunch of tests and what not and that's when I found out I had leukemia."

Cody's leukemia is severe, and is currently undergoing extensive chemotherapy every day. If you ask him though, the only thing this brave soldier wants is his mom.

"She's supposed to be here today, which is going to be awesome. Which, there's nothing like the support of family."

Because Cody's cancer is severe doctors said he may need a bone marrow transplant, which his younger brother Tyler has volunteered to donate.

Cody is currently still listed as active duty, but his orders right now are to get better.

Rick Gaskill
Borger, TX

Thanks to a young boy

I just watched the video of the young boy on Omaha Beach honoring the ones that died there that day and the veterans who were there. My Dad was one of those men that landed on Omaha Beach, June 6, 1944. He was a member of the 70th Tank Battalion 4th Division. He survived that day, came home, met and married my Mother in 1946.

I just wanted to thank that young boy for honoring my Dad and all the others that landed on that beach in 1944

The military tradition continues in my family. My son served in the US Navy for 15 years and my grandson is now serving.

Anonymous
Beckley, WV
Poem " America's Flag "

Poem " America's Flag "

“ America’s Flag “

Fifty stars for fifty states
Of which we can be proud
Thirteen stripes, of red and white
Our flag doth cry aloud

Do not threaten me it cries
I am the symbol of a country great
We will not run, we will not hide
We are the United States

We are a country of freedoms
We will fight, we will not bend
Our men and women proudly serve
Till all wars are at an end

Do not try to frighten us
You cannot break down our door
You cannot kill tradition
Other countries have tried before

As I wave I give this warning
We are a country that stands tall
I am a flag that stands for freedom
I am the flag that will not fall

God Bless our Troops and God Bless America!

By: William E. Kenyon

Bill Kenyon
Brimfield, MA